resolve
Americanverb (used with object)
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resolves,
present (3rd person singular)
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resolved,
past participle, past
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resolving
present participle
-
to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something).
I have resolved that I shall live to the full.
- Synonyms:
- confirm
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to separate into constituent or elementary parts; break up; cause or disintegrate (usually followed byinto ).
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to reduce or convert by, or as by, breaking up or disintegration (usually followed by to orinto ).
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to convert or transform by any process (often used reflexively).
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to reduce by mental analysis (often followed byinto ).
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to settle, determine, or state in a formal vote or formal expression of opinion or intention, as of a deliberative assembly.
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to deal with (a question, a matter of uncertainty, etc.) conclusively; settle; solve.
to resolve the question before the board.
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to clear away or dispel (doubts, fears, etc.); answer.
to resolve any doubts we may have had.
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Chemistry. to separate (a racemic mixture) into optically active components.
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Music. to cause (a voice part or the harmony as a whole) to progress from a dissonance to a consonance.
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Optics. to separate and make visible the individual parts of (an image); distinguish between.
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Medicine/Medical. to cause (swellings, inflammation, etc.) to disappear without suppuration.
verb (used without object)
-
resolves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
resolved,
past participle, past
-
resolving
present participle
-
to come to a determination; make up one's mind; determine (often followed by on orupon ).
to resolve on a plan of action.
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to break up or disintegrate.
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to be reduced or changed by breaking up or otherwise (usually followed by to orinto ).
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Music. to progress from a dissonance to a consonance.
noun
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resolves
plural
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a resolution or determination made, as to follow some course of action.
- Synonyms:
- decision
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firmness of purpose or intent; determination.
verb
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(takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to decide or determine firmly
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to express (an opinion) formally, esp (of a public meeting) one agreed by a vote
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to separate or cause to separate (into) (constituent parts or elements)
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(usually reflexive) to change, alter, or appear to change or alter
the ghost resolved itself into a tree
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to make up the mind of; cause to decide
the tempest resolved him to stay at home
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to find the answer or solution to; solve
to resolve a problem
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to explain away or dispel
to resolve a doubt
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to bring to an end; conclude
to resolve an argument
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med to cause (a swelling or inflammation) to subside, esp without the formation of pus
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(also intr) to follow (a dissonant note or chord) or (of a dissonant note or chord) to be followed by one producing a consonance
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chem to separate (a racemic mixture) into its optically active constituents
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physics
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to distinguish between (separate parts) of (an image) as in a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument
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to separate (two adjacent peaks) in a spectrum by means of a spectrometer
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maths to split (a vector) into its components in specified directions
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an obsolete word for dissolve
noun
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something determined or decided; resolution
he had made a resolve to work all day
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firmness of purpose; determination
nothing can break his resolve
Usage
What are other ways to say resolve?
To resolve something is to come to a definite or earnest decision about it. How is it different from decide and determine? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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resolvesimple
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resolvessimple
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have resolvedperfect
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has resolvedperfect
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am resolvingprogressive
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are resolvingprogressive
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is resolvingprogressive
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have been resolvingperfect progressive
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has been resolvingperfect progressive
Past
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resolvedsimple
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had resolvedperfect
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was resolvingprogressive
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were resolvingprogressive
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had been resolvingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of resolve
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb resolven “to alter, loosen, temper,” from Latin resolvere “to unfasten, loosen, release,” equivalent to re- re- + solvere solve
Explanation
To resolve is to settle or make a decision about something — often formal. A college's board of directors might resolve to recruit more minority students. As a noun, resolve refers to a strong determination to do something. If you make a New Year's resolution to exercise every day, you'll need plenty of resolve to stick with your program. The verb descends from Middle English resolven "to dissolve," from Latin resolvere "to untie." In English, the obsolete sense of "to dissolve" can be seen in this line from Shakespeare: "O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew."
Vocabulary lists containing resolve
Words for a New Year
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List 7
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19th Amendment (1920)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The settlement will resolve allegations that Lyft misclassified its workers as independent contractors between 2016 and 2020 and denied them wage and workplace protections that were required under state law at the time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
“Central banks have a responsibility to safeguard the stability of the whole system. We cannot stand aside and assume that technological progress will resolve these questions on its own.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Say Agency had said it was working to resolve the issue with the stadium before confirming they could not go ahead earlier.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
"In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others."
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
Ekon grimaced, an entirely new resolve rising in him.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
In addition to identifying a likely geographic origin for bats, the analysis also resolves several long-running disagreements about how different bat families are related.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
Gundlach Bundschu plans to remain open while it resolves its debt and ownership issues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
In many cases, asking members to correct their own data resolves the problem, LinkedIn says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
The artwork, called I'm Mr Mercury, is anamorphic, meaning the image only resolves when viewed from a single marked spot about 65ft away.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
All her fine resolves about trying to understand and to be patient, and already she could feel the defiance rising again.
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
It said those concerns should be evaluated and resolved before crews are released from the assignment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
He said the dispute could still be resolved, adding the union were "open" to meaningful talks with management to resolve the issue ahead of the new academic year.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
Ever the humanist, fascinated by ordinary people taking on otherwise herculean tasks to the point of obsession, Herzog resolved decades ago to make a film inspired by the sisters.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
The impact of tariffs should fade and energy prices should fall as soon as the Iran conflict is resolved, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
The pattern of tension and release created by resolved dissonances is part of what makes a piece of music exciting and interesting.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Talks aimed at resolving the Drumcree dispute are expected to continue, as the Orange Order's Nigel Dawson says "there are currently no proposals on the table."
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
In two-dimensional liquid chromatography, compounds are separated in two different ways, giving scientists much greater resolving power when working with samples containing many closely related chemicals.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
“We will continue to engage constructively with the department and look forward to resolving this matter,” the statement said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
In Thurman’s case, despite clear signs of an ectopic pregnancy, two emergency departments sent her home without resolving the complication.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
L’Hôpital’s rule was extremely important for resolving some of the difficulties with 0/0, but the underlying problem remained.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
